Frenkie de Jong is refusing to bow to the intense pressure exerted on him by Barcelona chiefs to accept a transfer to Manchester United this summer, according to reports in Spain.
The Red Devils have agreed an €85million (£72m) deal to sign the midfielder, with €75m (63m) to be paid up front and the rest of the sum made up of add-ons. However, De Jong remains intent on staying at Camp Nou having previously labelled Barca his "dream" club.
The transfer saga has dragged on throughout the window and there is plenty still to be resolved despite a deal being struck between the two European giants. Barca are keen to expedite the process of offloading De Jong and have even threatened to leave him off the plane as they travel to the United States for a pre-season tour.
That is according to Sport, which claims the Catalan club have told the 25-year-old he must leave this summer in no uncertain terms. This urgency has been created by Barcelona's other business, as they find themselves struggling to register the multiple players they have signed on free transfers.
These are Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie, while Raphinha has joined from Leeds and Xavi's side are also keen to extend the contract of Sergi Roberto, whose deal expires next year. Selling De Jong - who is under contract until 2026 - would save Barcelona €30million (£25m) in the long run, giving them much-needed funds to balance the books.
Barca are due to jet across the pond on Saturday for friendlies against Inter Miami, Real Madrid, Juventus, New York Red Bulls and Club Universidad Nacional. The report adds leaving De Jong off the flight is viewed as a way of breaking his resistance towards the move to United.
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The gifted midfielder joined Barca from Ajax for an initial fee of £65million in 2019 and he has made 140 appearances for the Camp Nou club, scoring 13 goals. Although he clearly relishes playing for the Blaugrana and United are in a relatively poor condition - they faltered to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season - De Jong's opposition to the Red Devils is somewhat surprising.
A new era is underway at Old Trafford led by Erik ten Hag, who worked alongside De Jong at Ajax to brilliant effect. The duo won the league-cup double in the Netherlands in the 2018/19 campaign and reached the Champions League semi-finals that same term, yet De Jong does not appear inclined to reunite with his fellow Dutchman.
